Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Antique Limestone Orbs or Bowling Balls?

 I love the weather-patina of antique stone garden orbs


Today new glass, mosaic and stone garden orbs
are readily available.  

An article in the 2010 Better Homes & Garden magazine suggest using bowling balls as garden decorations.  
 I know I am not the only odd person to use bowling balls in their gardens, but I can sure claim
some of my bowling ball orbs have been around nearly 20 years.

Antique stone orbs command high prices, so unless I come across a really good deal, my gardens will offer bowling ball orbs.






Who knew vintage bowling balls could be so cool?





















Sunday, August 19, 2012

Exotic or Sci-Fi Flowers

Today welcomed a lovely morning of 58 degrees.
Perfect weather for weeding the flower beds.

I am not much of a flower gardener, but try to maintain the
various wild flowers that lived here before we did.   

Throughout the years I have added a few perennials.
Sadly Mother Nature has discarded some of my original favorites,
Black-eyed Susans and Echinacea.

Upon today's weeding, I questioned if two of my plants are seen as Exotic or Sci-Fi flowers.  

Evening Primrose looks like a sweet bloom; 

 however, they grow 12-18 feet
tall and peer in our kitchen windows
Their flowing ballet-style of movement as they dance in the breeze is awesome.  Although sometimes they startle me, especially at night,  when I walk into our kitchen and they are dancing and peeking in our windows.



When I originally transplanted two Evening Primrose into my  garden,
I also installed two Civil War corral posts to support them.
Here you can see the Civil War corral posts.
There are four loops in the post in which rope is woven
 to create the perimeter of a portable horse corral.  

I thought these Civil War posts would make suitable posts to support my Evening Primrose.  As you can see the Evening Primrose have a mind of their own.  They multiply & choose 
to grow wherever they want.

I kept the Civil War corral posts in my garden as they are
historically awesome. 


Now for my Passion Flower plants...
This was another plant I transplanted years ago.
It is a lovely perennial; however, had I known how invasive it is,
I would have never planted it.   

It would take over our house if I did not routinely trim it.  It sends shoots underground even under concrete.  During growing season, I am constantly weeding it from
other areas of our yard.


Besides it being a garden nuisance, it is offers gorgeous blooms.  Beyond 7am on a warm day you cannot get near this flower bed as the Passion Flower attracts butterflies
as well as swarms of bees.

Even this butterfly (perhaps a moth) looks a bit alien-Sci-Fi.


What do you see Exotic or Sci-Fi looking flowers?





Saturday, August 18, 2012

Accomplishing Projects

It's been two weeks since my last post.
It's been one of those times where you meet yourself coming
and going - due date upon due date.  

One of my goals has been to finish my necklace from



I've worn it twice this week and have had several people
stopped me and make lovely comments.  

Two reasons I am delighted with my necklace -
a completed project and I LIKE it.


Another project I have recently marked off My To Do list

My Garden Fairy is me at age two.  I am a paper doll fairy with jointed/movable arms and legs.  I have to be treated with extreme care as my arms & legs are made out of paper and
will wear out or tear easily.


The reverse side is a digital creation by me
"I'm FAIRY certain that
given a cape & tiara
I just might be able to 
save the world."

(The fairy is ready to accept her tiara and leave
the woodlands to save the world)

My dryer is buzzing, my floors need swept, I have more art swap projects to finish & my gardens need weeding... 

Hope you're having a full & lovely day too!







Monday, August 6, 2012

10 Year Employment Gift

I recently had my 10 year employment anniversary.  
I received an internet catalog link from my employer to select
and order my anniversary gift. 

I selected a compact Fuji 500 series 35 mm digital camera.

Here are a few photos I've snapped with my new camera of
my art studio and button room











Thus far I am very pleased with this new camera.
I need to study it more and see what else it can do.

Thanks for stopping by

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Beautiful Gifts from Beautiful Friends

My dear & amazing friend Venita was visiting her daughter this past winter in Florida.  Her daughter has a ceramic kiln, so Venita being a button collector like me,
made her own ceramic buttons.
(Venita)

Here are the buttons she created and shared with me
   I totally adore & cherish them!


My other wonderful gift I received from Sarah at

Sarah offered a bracelet give away  
Sterling silver, fresh water pearls and a gorgeous
vintage mother of pearl heart.
Isn't it just gorgeous?  

I am one blessed friend to have friends share these
beautiful gifts  with me.  

Thank you Venita & Sarah!